TNT Staff

Linda M. Lee, Executive Director of TNT since April 1, 1995, is a Cum Laude honors graduate of Texas Christian University with a BFA in Theatre. She held a Nordan Fine Arts Scholarship while at TCU. Lee began her professional career as a company member at Casa Manana, where she served in various capacities as actor, teacher, costumer and administrator for the Playhouse for six years. For two years she sang with the musical group, Camp & Company, touring Texas and the Southeastern U.S., performing works by such diverse artists as the Andrews Sisters, Glen Miller, the Pointer Sisters, Linda Rondstadt, and Bonnie Rait. She also wrote the music and lyrics for three children's musicals with playwright Frances Seidensticker. In 1979 she joined the fledgling Creative Arts Theatre & School in Arlington as an administrative consultant, later becoming Administrative Director and then Executive Director in 1987. She helped build the youth theatre into one of Arlington's largest arts entities, with a budget over $430,000 annually and an enrollment of approximately 1,000 per year. In addition to administrative duties, she served as an instructor for advanced level acting students, a touring company director, director for mainstage productions, composer, and photographer. Lee was a Board member for TNT from 1988 through 1994 and served as Secretary for two years. As an actor, Lee has appeared onstage at Casa Manana Theatre, where she played Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella in Cinderella, Alice in Alice in Wonderland, and the Sheep in Charlotte's Web, among numerous roles. She has also performed for Fort Worth's Shakespeare in the Park (Ophelia in Hamlet, Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Marianna in Measure for Measure). At Stage West she played several roles in Canterbury Tales, and she has appeared in several Hip Pocket Theatre productions, even playing herself in Charlie Chan and the House of Tomorrow.

After retiring from CATS in 1994 and before assuming her duties with TNT, Lee worked as a freelance photographer and director. She is on the Board of Directors of the Live Theatre League of Tarrant County, currently serving as Treasurer. She is also Vice President of Education for the American Association of Community Theatre, a member of the College of Fellows for the Southwest Theatre & Film Association, and Secretary of Texans for the Arts. In December 2004, she served on the Theatre & Musical Theatre Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts. Lee is married to Casa Manana lighting designer Jay Isham. They have one son.

Marla Jo Kelly, Administrative Assistant of TNT since Sept 2006, is a 2006 Cum Laude graduate of Texas Wesleyan University with a BA in Theatre. While attending Wesleyan, Kelly was a member of the honor society Mortar Board, the theatre honor fraternity Alpha Psi Omega as well as a member of College Democrats. Kelly worked for the school's newspaper, The Rambler, as an entertainment correspondent and photographer and also worked as an assistant in Theatre Wesleyan's scenic and costume shops. She performed in well over a dozen Theatre Wesleyan productions portraying such characters as Squeaky Fromme in Assassins, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest, Rose is Dancing at Lughnasa and Ruby in Dames at Sea. She also served as the host and narrator of a promotional film produced for TWU. Shortly before graduating, Kelly was awarded with the title of Bearer of the Golden Shears as well as with the Johnson Garrett Musical Theatre Award. She is a life-long patron of the Arts in Fort Worth, especially enjoying Texas Ballet Theatre productions. Kelly, having studied voice for over seven years, enjoys singing and participating in Musical Theatre. She also enjoys painting. She hopes to pursue acting in local theatre productions and to eventually earn an MFA in Theatre.

Texas Nonprofit Theatres, Inc.
1300 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Phone: (817) 731-2238, Fax: (817) 731-2239, E-mail: tnt@texastheatres.org
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